Walter Scott (1771—1832) was a Scottish historical novelist, poet, and playwright. Although he was an advocate and legal administrator by profession, Scott is most famous for his great literary works and activities in the Royal Highland Society. Being a sequel to the author's previous work "The Monastery", "The Abbot" primarily focuses on Queen Mary's imprisonment at Loch Leven Castle, her escape, and her defeat. In parallel, the book describes an interesting love story between Roland Graeme and Catherine Seyton, one of the ladies-in-waiting to the queen, and also the story of Edward Glendinning, the last abbot of the monastery.